How To Find Christmas Presents That Your Parents Have Hidden

You can also search at night if you think you could do so without getting caught. However, be extremely careful. Don’t do this if anyone you live with has violent reactions or owns a gun. You could be mistaken for a burglar. If you have siblings, try to do this while they’re outside the house as well. Many siblings would be more than willing to snitch on you.

When you’re done snooping, use the pictures to put everything back in its right place. It’ll be like you were never there. Be sure to delete the photos when you’re finished! Especially if this isn’t your own camera, or your parents or siblings have access to it, this is definitely foolproof evidence if you’re caught.

Check inside bags. If your presents aren’t wrapped yet (or your parents are sneaky), there might be goodies inside plain paper and plastic bags. Look inside rooms that are suddenly locked around Christmas. Look through the keys on your parents’ key chains. Indoor locks (the kind with just the small hole in the knob) are just privacy locks, and can usually be opened with a tiny screwdriver. [2] X Research source If your parents like spy movies, make sure they haven’t put a piece of tape or something in the door so they can tell if somebody opens the door.

Try looking in “off the beaten path” places, like laundry baskets and under the bathroom sink. You never know what you’ll find. Look through every box you find. Especially devious parents may even hide your gifts in a box with something unsuspecting like ’tax returns’ or ‘spare bedding’ written on it.

Also look in roof or bike storage units. They may be locked, but the key is easy to find if you know where your parents usually keep their keys.

Be warned that some gifts you find at a relative’s house may not be for you, especially if they have any children of their own.

Unless you’re extremely careful, looking for receipts in mom’s purse or dad’s wallet is a bad idea. If you’re caught you’ll be in huge trouble. It’s almost impossible to put papers and receipts back exactly as they were. Be extra careful if you decide to snoop on your parent’s computer. This is a serious violation of privacy and can ruin your entire family’s Christmas.

If it’s almost square and about 5-inches (140 mm) long, it’s obviously a CD. Just think about saying anything to your parents about your favorite CD that you want, and that’s probably what it is. If it’s slim, rigid and rectangular, it’s most likely a DVD or video game, especially if you hear a distinctive disc rattling sound when you shake it. A similarly shaped present that dips inwards on all but one of the edges is a hardback book, and if it’s slightly bendy it’s a paperback book. If it’s a long, soft rectangle that’s not too deep, it might be clothes. Soft and roughly cylindrical presents could be socks. If a squishy present is unusually round or otherwise oddly shaped, it’s likely a stuffed toy. A box that is larger on the bottom, and has a really skinny top, is usually either two similar gifts wrapped together or a game of some sort. If there’s a second, smaller box taped to the the outside, it’s probably batteries for the game. If the box is about the size of a shoe box, feel around the sides of the box, near the top. If there’s a lip, you can be pretty certain you have new shoes! If it’s a very long and thin cuboid, try not to drool; you’ve probably got some candy. Long, very light cylinders are surely posters, and square flat ones usually turn out to be calendars.

If you hear broken glass, you may have already broken something inside. Take a quick peek inside the box if you hear this, and if something is broken, go apologize to your parents. It’s better to tell the truth now and face the consequences than lying your way out of it later.

If the box is large, but is not very heavy, you can be pretty sure it’s not packed with clothing, books, or other heavier things. Some parents booby-trap presents that are already wrapped by putting them inside bigger boxes stuffed with paper, packing peanuts or other things to reduce sound when you shake them. If you can’t guess what a large present is based on its size, this might be why. Truly clever parents will nest smaller boxes inside larger boxes if they catch you snooping. You’ll open one box, and find another and then another. Your Big Present may actually turn out to be a gag gift, like a magic decoder ring, or some other silly stocking stuffer. [5] X Research source Never dismiss a small box. It could turn out to be something valuable such as a mobile phone, jewelry, gift cards or even concert tickets.

Peel off one end only, if you can. If you manage to loosen up one end, you’ll be able to get a peek at the sides of your present. Beware of bows and ribbons. Never remove a bow from a wrapped present, as these are practically impossible to put back on looking pristine.

Similarly, don’t search in one of your parents’ or siblings’ favorite spots, such as their rooms or offices, when they are home. They could go there at any time and you will have great difficulty being stealthy.

Be careful keeping a digital log if you use a shared computer.

Similarly, be on your best overall behavior and stay out of trouble.

Say something like this: “Mom, I’m sorry that I went looking for my Christmas presents. I know you like surprising me with gifts at Christmastime and I ruined it for you. I promise I won’t go snooping around again. "

If your parents say they will take away presents, don’t argue. By snooping, you are ruining the surprise, so you may actually be happier not having any spoilers.